20 Dec 2025

This week on LEISURE LINK with Peter Greco: 

• Sam Blade, Australian para-fencer, chatted about his introduction to the sport; some of the highlights - including first time representing Australia in 2024, and the sport receiving some funding assistance for new equipment through our Paralympic Equipment Enhancement Program. Sam also spoke about  being diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia.  

• Matt Cowdrey OAM, member for Colton, has just been appointed Paralympics Australia's new Head of Para-sport System and Partnerships - responsible for driving PA's work to build an inclusive and sustainable Para-sport system aligned to the 2032+ High Performance Sport Strategy. Matt also shared news on telephone assisted voting at the 2026 state election.  

• Dane Cross, Chief Operating Officer at Sporting Wheelies, spoke about their Christmas appeal, the “Raising the Bar” program, visiting schools to share lived experience; teach inclusive language and run adaptive sport demonstrations   

• Pam Mitchell, resident Counsellor, delivered her traditional Christmas message.  

• Alex Sar, deafblind camp co-ordinator, invited anyone who is deafblind to the camp taking place during April in Victoria. The camp is sponsored by The Lionel and Yvonne Spencer Trust and The Olver-Carlyle Charitable Foundation, 

• Amy Mills, Arts Development Manager at Arts Access Australia, launched their Access Ideas and Insights Podcast. The podcast is audio described, auslan interpreted, and captioned.  

• Naomi  Mancktelow, Community Engagement Coordinator from the Petstock Foundation, unveiled their Christmas Initiative to Broaden Life-Changing Support, RDA and Story Dogs.   

Resources: 

Sporting Wheelies: http://www.sportingwheelies.org.au  

Pam Mitchell:  0418 835 767 

Able Australia: http://www.ableaustralia.org.au Camp information email: dbcampAbleaustralia.org.au 
Access Arts Australia: http://www.aarts.net.au  

Petstock: https://www.petstock.com.au  

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